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NFL Owners Expect New Deal for Roger Goodell Soon
NFL owners expect to finalize an extension with commissioner Roger Goodell in the coming months to keep him in place to oversee the negotiations for new broadcasting deals and a collective bargaining agreement with players that could include an 18-game season, four people with the owners' views told Mark Maske of Front Office Sports. Goodell's current contract is set to expire in March of next year, when he will be 68. He completed a three-year extension with the league's owners in October of 2023. A meeting for owners scheduled for this October could be a reasonable target for Goodell's next contract to be announced, given that his 2023 extension was announced during an owners' meeting in Manhattan that October. It doesn't appear that there are any major stumbling blocks in negotiations between the owners and Goodell. Goodell has been the league's commissioner since 2006.
Source: Front Office Sports - Mark Maske
Source: Front Office Sports - Mark Maske
Omar Cooper Jr. Carries Redraft Sleeper Appeal into 2026
The 30th overall selection in the 2026 NFL Draft, New York Jets wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. enters his rookie season with a chance to make an immediate contribution. Cooper Jr. was highly productive in his final collegiate season at the University of Indiana in 2025, recording 69 catches for 937 yards and 13 touchdowns across 16 games. While the Jets have an established WR1 in Garrett Wilson, Cooper Jr. could easily emerge as the team's number two option in the passing game. The biggest red flag in the 22-year-old's outlook for 2026 is probably the question marks that remain in the Jets' overall offensive ecosystem, which was one of the NFL's worst a season ago. However, veteran quarterback Geno Smith should at least provide some stability to the passing game and be able to support modest fantasy production from a second wideout outside of Wilson. As the WR58 by current redraft ADP, Cooper Jr. carries sleeper appeal into 2026.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Cade Klubnik Will Have an Opportunity to Win the Backup QB Job
New York Jets rookie quarterback Cade Klubnik impressed the coaching staff during offseason workouts, figures to get plenty of reps during the preseason, and will have an opportunity to win the backup job and "perhaps lay the groundwork for late-season playing time," according to Rich Cimini of ESPN. Klubnik's progress in the spring was impeded when he missed the last two weeks of practice with back tightness, but before that, he was doing "a really good job," according to head coach Aaron Glenn. The 22-year-old fourth-rounder out of Clemson will compete with Bailey Zappe and Brady Cook for the backup job behind veteran Geno Smith in training camp this summer. Jets coaches don't think Klubnik's mechanics need much work; he just needs experience. Offensive coordinator Frank Reich said Klubnik is "pretty charismatic" with "high emotional intelligence" and "natural leadership instincts." "He's got a good base, a good rhythm. He's got plenty good grip [on the ball], so there's not a lot of slipping in mid-motion. Those balls aren't coming unraveled when he throws it. He throws a nice, tight spiral," QBs coach Bill Musgrave said. Klubnik can be ignored in 2026 redraft leagues, and he'll be a developmental QB to stash in dynasty/keeper formats.
Source: ESPN New York - Rich Cimini
Source: ESPN New York - Rich Cimini
Curtis Mead Is a Top Waiver-Wire Bat
Washington Nationals third baseman Curtis Mead reached base three times Sunday, July 19, going 1-for-3 with two walks, an RBI, a run, and his sixth steal in a 5-2 win over the Athletics. He is batting .256 with 17 home runs, 48 RBI, 47 runs, and six steals across 270 at-bats. July has been even better: 19-for-46 (.413) with three homers, nine RBI, 11 runs, and two steals. Yahoo still lists Mead at 47% rostered. That is hard to square with a regular third baseman who also qualifies at first and second, especially one producing this kind of power without selling out for it. Mead has an 11.4% barrel rate, 42.5% hard-hit rate, and .471 expected slugging percentage. RotoBaller has moved him into the 10-team range. He is not a speculative add anymore. He is one of the better hitters still available.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Shane Drohan Has Pitched His Way Into 12-Team Leagues
Milwaukee Brewers left-handed starting pitcher Shane Drohan settled down after a three-run second inning on Saturday, July 18, and ended up striking out a career-high nine over six frames against Miami. He earned his fifth win and now carries a 3.20 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, and 76 strikeouts in 76 innings. That is a lot more than streamer-only production. Drohan has started seven straight games, and Milwaukee has every reason to keep him there after Brandon Woodruff's season-ending shoulder surgery. The underlying numbers are holding up, too, with a 3.31 expected ERA, 24.0% strikeout rate, and 6.6% walk rate. A 37% roster rate on Yahoo still leaves him available in plenty of leagues. RotoBaller has Drohan in the 12-team range, and the ratios, strikeouts, and steadier rotation path make him worth holding rather than cycling back onto the wire.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Kenyon Sadiq a Prime Target for Dynasty Rebuilds
New York Jets rookie tight end Kenyon Sadiq (hernia) missed team activities in the spring while recovering from sports hernia surgery, but he is expected to be fully ready for the start of training camp. The 16th overall selection in the 2026 NFL Draft, Sadiq recorded 51 catches for 560 yards and eight touchdowns across 14 games for the University of Oregon in 2025. The Jets have a second intriguing young tight end in 2025 second-rounder Mason Taylor, who recorded 44 catches across 13 games as a rookie last season. However, Sadiq is an elite athlete for the position who has some ability to work from the slot, which could allow the Jets to use multiple-tight-end sets more often than most teams. Still, Sadiq profiles as more of a developmental piece for fantasy managers, as he will play his entire rookie season at just 21 years old. Managers looking for immediate top-12 tight end production from Sadiq may be disappointed, but dynasty managers in the midst of a rebuild should view him as a priority target.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Max Clark Talented Enough To Reward Forward-Thinking Fantasy Managers
Detroit Tigers outfield prospect Max Clark has had a nice season at Triple-A Toledo and has turned in a solid month of July. In 45 at bats this month for Toledo, Clark has recorded two homers and three RBI with nine runs scored while hitting .289 overall. Altogether, the talented 21-year-old left-handed hitter has racked up eight homers and 35 RBI with 58 runs scored and 20 stolen bases at Toledo this season while hitting .265. The Tigers top overall prospect, Clark, a first-round pick out of Franklin High School in Indiana, is a five-tool threat who could contribute immediately to fantasy teams if given a shot at the big leagues. The Tigers could look to the upside of Clark in the second half, especially if they decide to be sellers at the trade deadline. Clark has the potential to reward fantasy managers who take a chance on rostering him.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Heriberto Hernandez has Outproduced Deep-League Status
Miami Marlins outfielder Heriberto Hernandez added two more hits against Milwaukee on Sunday, leaving him at .237 with 13 home runs, 36 RBI, 25 runs, and six steals across 215 at-bats. July has been much louder. Hernandez is 14-for-46 (.304) with five homers, seven RBI, and seven runs this month. The power is not coming out of nowhere. His average exit velocity sits at 92.3 mph, with a 50.6% hard-hit rate, 12.0% barrel rate, and .502 expected slugging percentage. The batting average may bounce around, and a 24.1% strikeout rate leaves room for cold stretches. That is easier to accept when the ball is being hit this hard. Only 7% of Yahoo leagues have Hernandez rostered, while RotoBaller places him in the 12-team range. He has moved beyond deep-league-only territory.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Seth Halvorsen Traded to Dodgers
Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Seth Halvorsen (shoulder) is being traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers for right-hander Nick Frasso and outfielder Landyn Vidourek. Halvorsen is on a rehab assignment after landing on the 15-day injured list July 4, retroactive to July 1, with right shoulder inflammation. The 26-year-old has a 4.74 ERA, 1.95 WHIP, 15 walks, and 17 strikeouts in 19 innings. Ugly numbers, but his fastball averaged 100 mph in 2025, when he saved 11 games as a rookie. Los Angeles has no reason to rush him. Edwin Diaz is already on a rehab assignment, and Tanner Scott has been one of several late-inning options while Diaz is out. Halvorsen does not have a clean path to saves and can stay on waiver wires outside deep holds leagues until he is healthy and throwing more strikes.
Source: Jon Heyman
Source: Jon Heyman
DJ Moore a Risky Pick at Current Redraft ADP Despite Improved Situation in Buffalo
After spending the last three seasons with the Chicago Bears, veteran wide receiver DJ Moore was acquired by the Buffalo Bills this past spring. Moore had one of the least productive seasons of his career in his final year with Chicago, recording 50 catches for 682 yards and six touchdowns on 85 targets across 17 games. Moore was marginalized in Chicago by the emergence of younger wide receivers Rome Odunze and Luther Burden III. However, Moore profiles as the clear WR1 for the Bills, who have been desperate for high-end wide receiver play for the past couple of years. Moore recorded 98 catches for 966 yards and six touchdowns on 140 targets in 2024, so he could immediately return to form in his first season as the WR1 in Buffalo. Still, Moore is entering his age-29 season and has racked up the mileage of 131 NFL games on his body. It's possible that 2025 was simply the start of the decline phase of Moore's career. At his current redraft ADP of WR23, Moore could be a risky selection for fantasy managers.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Charlie Condon's Consistent Bat Could be Worth a Big-League Look
Colorado Rockies first base/outfield prospect Charlie Condon has been producing at a high rate all season at Triple-A Albuquerque. The former first-round pick out of Georgia is tearing up the Pacific Coast League with 20 homers and 61 RBI in 82 games with a .286 batting average to go along with 75 runs scored. The first base/outfield prospect is ranked as the No. 2 prospect in the Rockies' system and boasts a 55 overall hit tool and 55 overall power on the scouting scale. In fantasy baseball, the appeal of Colorado Rockies players is well-documented, and Condon would be a massive waiver wire addition if he is called up to the big leagues in the second half. A proven bat at age 23, Condon looks like a good option to be worth a shot in Colorado sooner rather than later. He should probably already be snatched up in fantasy leagues in anticipation of that opportunity.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Chris Godwin Jr. to Work Primarily Out of the Slot
Andrew Harbaugh of the Buccaneers Wire writes that Tampa Bay Buccaneers veteran wide receiver Chris Godwin Jr. will mostly work out of the slot in 2026, with Emeka Egbuka and Jalen McMillan operating on the outside. The 30-year-old's redraft fantasy stock is down this year despite future Hall of Famer Mike Evans moving to San Francisco, primarily because he's only played in 16 regular-season games in the last two years due to injuries. In nine games in 2025, Godwin caught a career-low 33 passes for 360 yards and only two touchdowns on 51 targets. However, even though he's a big question mark in terms of durability, Godwin could be a solid value pick in 2026 fantasy drafts, particularly PPR formats, now that he's fully healthy and coming off a strong offseason. With Evans gone and in a new offense that figures to feature quick-hitters underneath, Godwin could easily become veteran QB Baker Mayfield's go-to target as Tampa looks to get back to the postseason. Nobody should be expecting Godwin to produce like he was before his ankle injury in 2024, when he had a 50-576-5 line in seven games, but he could still be a pretty productive WR4/flex for fantasy managers in 2026 if he can stay healthy for the entire season.
Source: Buccaneers Wire - Andrew Harbaugh
Source: Buccaneers Wire - Andrew Harbaugh
It's Time for Dynasty Managers to Move on From Hollywood Brown
Across 16 games (six starts) with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2025, veteran wide receiver Hollywood Brown recorded 49 catches for 587 yards and five touchdowns on 74 targets. Entering 2026, Brown is now a member of the Philadelphia Eagles. While Philadelphia lost a key pass-catcher by trading wideout A.J. Brown to the New England Patriots, the team selected wide receiver Makai Lemon in the first round of the 2026 Draft and acquired wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks from the Green Bay Packers. As a result, Hollywood is likely to start the upcoming season as the Eagles' WR4 behind Lemon, Wicks, and DeVonta Smith. While Brown was a productive player at earlier points in his career, he's now five years removed from his only 1,000-yard season. As an undersized wide receiver who relies on speed, it's fair to question how much Brown has left in the tank as he enters his age-29 campaign. In dynasty formats, managers should be looking to move on from Brown.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Kade Anderson's Upside Makes Him a Valuable Stash
Seattle Mariners pitching prospect Kade Anderson has been so good this season at Double-A Arkansas that he is worth stashing on fantasy rosters regardless of how the Mariners intend to deploy him this season. Anderson is 8-1 this season for Arkansas with a 1.36 ERA and 0.69 WHIP with 108 strikeouts in 72 2/3 innings pitched. Anderson, the 22-year-old, has risen to the top overall prospect that the Mariners have in their system. The former No. 3 overall draft pick out of LSU, Anderson is so dominant from the left-hand side that he should leave fantasy managers drooling especially in dynasty leagues, but the question is whether he will be called up this season. With no experience past Double-A, the Mariners could take a wait-and-see approach with the talented flamethrower. With a devastating fastball-changeup combo, with both pitches graded out at 60 overall, Anderson's strikeout upside makes him an appealing stash no matter where he is pitching in the minors.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Nick Gonzales Should Not Be Available in 12-Team Leagues
Pittsburgh Pirates infielder Nick Gonzales picked up two more hits and scored twice in Sunday's 7-1 win over Cleveland. He also homered in Saturday's opener and now sits at .311 with five home runs, 55 runs, 44 RBI, and four steals over 351 at-bats. Only 40% of Yahoo leagues have him rostered, a low number for a hitter who ranks third in the National League in hits. The average is doing most of the work here. Gonzales has only five homers and four steals, so this is not broad category juice. He keeps putting the ball in play, owns a .370 on-base percentage, and qualifies at second base, third base, and shortstop. Some pullback is possible, with a .282 expected average behind the .311 mark. Even then, this kind of useful, flexible bat belongs in 12-team leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Mason Montgomery Is Pittsburgh's Best Saves Stash
Pittsburgh Pirates left-handed reliever Mason Montgomery struck out two in a clean eighth inning against Cleveland on Sunday. Make that seven straight scoreless appearances, 6 1/3 innings in all, with one hit allowed and 12 strikeouts. He picked up his first save of the season during that run. Montgomery's 3.92 ERA and 1.26 WHIP are not exactly closer numbers. Fifty-eight strikeouts in 39 innings tell a different story. The ninth is not his, at least not yet. Pittsburgh started him Saturday, then used him with a four-run lead Sunday. Gregory Soto could not protect the lead in Saturday's nightcap, and Dennis Santana gave up the walk-off homer. It is still a committee, and a messy one. Montgomery is missing the most bats and has the momentum. RotoBaller has him in the 12-team range, which makes him the Pittsburgh reliever to stash for future saves.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Angel Genao's Steady Productivity Could Give him Big-League Shot
Cleveland Guardians prospect Angel Genao has shown solid productivity across two minor league levels at Double-A Akron and Triple-A Columbus. The switch hitting infield prospect is red-hot this month with a .452 batting average across 42 July at bats in Columbus with a homer and four RBI to go with 10 runs scored. Since getting called up to Columbus, Genao has been steady across the board with a .305 batting average with seven homers and 28 RBI to go with 17 runs scored and six stolen bases. At 22 years old, Genao checks in as the No. 2 overall prospect in the Guardians' system and grades out with a 60 overall hit tool and 55 overall run tool. With Jose Ramirez on the injured list, Genao could force his way up to Cleveland. He does a little bit of everything from a production standpoint and that should translate to fantasy. Because he is so young, he is a bit of a risky stash, but could reward fantasy managers who take a chance on him.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Christian Kirk's Dynasty Value Fading Entering 2026
Entering 2026, San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Christian Kirk could be in line for a starting role in the slot. The veteran wideout battled through both injuries and underperformance as a member of the Houston Texans in 2025, recording 38 catches for 239 yards and one touchdown on 52 targets across 13 games. However, Kirk finished the year on a high note, hauling in 10 catches for 164 yards and two scores on 15 targets across the Texans' two playoff games. Still, Kirk's best days are likely behind him as he enters his age-30 campaign. Kirk has missed 18 games due to injury over the last three seasons, and he's failed to reach 30 catches or 400 receiving yards in either of the last two years. While Kirk may open the year in San Francisco as the team's WR3, the 49ers have a trio of young wideouts who could steal playing time from him in De'Zhaun Stribling, Jacob Cowing, and Jordan Watkins. In dynasty formats, Kirk profiles as a sell candidate ahead of 2026.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Walker Jenkins Worth Roster Gamble at Full Health
Minnesota Twins prospect Walker Jenkins has had a productive July at Triple-A St. Paul with two homers and four RBI in 45 at bats. Jenkins, the former first-round pick, was activated by St. Paul on June 22 following a left shoulder injury that held him out for an extended period of time. Jenkins has managed just 171 at bats this season and has recorded six homers and 18 RBI with nine stolen bases across three minor league levels. Back healthy, fantasy managers should keep an eye on Jenkins, the Twins top overall prospect, as he strives to prove himself back at the Triple-A level. The left-handed hitter is just 21 years old, but is considered one of the top prospects in baseball. If he can prove he can maintain his good health, he could be a big-time contributor for the Twins as soon as this season. It's well worth taking a chance on Jenkins on the waiver wire.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Brashard Smith's Best Dynasty Path Runs Through the Passing Game
Kansas City Chiefs running back Brashard Smith showed enough as a rookie to remain interesting, but the path to a larger role has become crowded. The former college receiver played all 17 games, making one start, and finished with 44 carries for 151 yards. He was more useful through the air, catching 25 passes for 172 yards and a touchdown. Kansas City finally gave him extended backfield work in Week 18, when he handled 12 carries for 56 yards and added two receptions. That was encouraging, but it was also the first time all year the Chiefs treated him like a featured runner. Kenneth Walker III now sits at the front of a rebuilt room, with Emari Demercado and fifth-round rookie Emmett Johnson joining Smith behind him. Johnson caught 46 passes during his final season at Nebraska, so Smith does not have the passing-down job to himself. His experience at receiver and 5-foot-10, 196-pound build still make him a possible space player in Andy Reid's offense. Managers already rostering Smith can wait through training camp. He is not a priority target for contenders or rebuilders, and there is not enough of a 2026 role to treat him as a redraft sleeper.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Joshua Baez Powering Up at Triple-A Memphis
Following a grand slam in a game for Triple-A Memphis over the weekend, St. Louis Cardinals outfield prospect Joshua Baez continued to build his case for a big league promotion. The power numbers for the talented outfielder look gaudy on the season for Memphis as he has racked up 29 homers and 79 RBI to go with 65 runs while hitting .245. Baez has a four-homer game to his name as he showed off his power potential. Baez, the No. 3 overall prospect in the Cardinals' system, could be a difference maker in fantasy circles over the second half of the season. The right-handed hitting, former second-round pick, is a proven power bat that can benefit the Cardinals and fantasy teams, he just needs an opportunity to play at the big-league level. If Baez is still available in your league, rush to the waiver wire to add him.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Zachariah Branch Brings More Dynasty Appeal Than Immediate Redraft Value
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Zachariah Branch has the speed to make Atlanta find room for him. How much room, and how soon, is the harder part. The Falcons selected Branch 79th overall after he set a Georgia single-season record with 81 catches for 811 yards and six touchdowns. Much of his work came after the catch, and he also returned punts and kickoffs. Atlanta can manufacture touches for him. Branch offered a glimpse at minicamp when he took a quick screen about 55 yards for a touchdown, though one spring play does not settle anything. Drake London is the clear No. 1 receiver. Jahan Dotson and Olamide Zaccheaus bring enough experience to enter camp ahead of Branch for the next two spots, while Bijan Robinson and Kyle Pitts will remain heavily involved. The quarterback job is unsettled between Michael Penix Jr. and Tua Tagovailoa, too. Branch has a real chance to contribute early as a returner and on schemed touches. A dependable route load may take longer. He carries more appeal as a dynasty stash for rebuilders than as an immediate redraft option, but deep-league managers should keep his name nearby.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
AJ Barner's Scoring Role Gives Him Deep-League Sleeper Appeal
Seattle Seahawks tight end AJ Barner turned a quiet rookie year into 52 catches for 519 yards and six touchdowns in 2025. He also scored on one of nine short-yardage carries, a small wrinkle Seattle could keep using near the goal line. Barner stayed on the field, playing 827 offensive snaps and starting every regular-season game while dealing with several injuries. Two offseason surgeries kept him out of spring practices, though he expects to be ready for training camp. That is the first thing to watch. Elijah Arroyo is the other. Seattle's 2025 second-round pick caught 15 passes for 179 yards and a touchdown in 13 games, and his receiving ability could cut into Barner's routes as he develops. Brian Fleury is now running the offense after previously coaching tight ends, so the position should remain involved. More involvement for Arroyo could be part of that, too. RotoBaller ranks Barner as the redraft TE27 and dynasty TE28. He is not a weekly starter yet, but the playing time and scoring role give him sneaky appeal in deeper redraft leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jaylen Wright Still Worth Stashing in Deeper Dynasty Leagues
Miami Dolphins running back Jaylen Wright finally got a real workload in Week 14 last season, and the result was 107 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries against the Jets. It was also the only time his role truly opened up. Wright appeared in 10 games after a preseason knee procedure, finishing with 70 carries for 288 yards and two scores, plus five catches for 44 yards. Miami has not moved away from De'Von Achane. Quite the opposite. Achane handled 305 touches for 1,838 scrimmage yards in 2025, then signed an extension through 2030. Ollie Gordon II is still around as well, and his short-yardage work could keep this from becoming a clean one-for-one replacement situation. Wright does have the better fit for Achane's broader role if needed. That is enough to keep the 23-year-old rostered in deeper dynasty leagues. He is more valuable to Achane managers than as a standalone target, and there is little reason to expect steady redraft production without an injury ahead of him.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Byron Buxton Coming Off the Injured List on Monday
The Minnesota Twins are reinstating outfielder Byron Buxton (hip) from the 10-day injured list on Monday and have optioned second baseman Tristan Gray to Triple-A St. Paul in a corresponding move, according to Dan Hayes of The Athletic. The Twins haven't announced their starting lineup for Monday's contest on the road against the division-rival Cleveland Guardians and right-hander Tanner Bibee, but Buxton should be in there as at least the designated hitter. Buxton will return to the Twins after missing almost two weeks with a right-hip injury. He might be a little rusty at the plate without going on a minor-league rehab assignment, but he shouldn't be on any waiver wires while in the midst of another strong season in Minnesota. The 32-year-old former second overall pick in 2012 isn't running like he did last year, but he is returning to a strong .271/.328/.575 slash line with a .904 OPS, 25 home runs, 45 RBI, 57 runs, and seven stolen bases in his 306 at-bats in 2026. Buxton is hitting .154 in 13 career at-bats against Bibee, but he also has an .829 OPS with two solo home runs.
Source: The Athletic - Dan Hayes
Source: The Athletic - Dan Hayes
James Conner Still Worth Holding for Dynasty Contenders
Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner is no longer the engine of this backfield, but that does not make him useless to a contender. His 2025 season lasted only three games before a right foot injury required surgery. The 6-foot-1, 233-pound veteran finished with 32 carries for 95 yards and one touchdown, along with eight catches for 38 yards and another score. The last healthy sample was much more encouraging. Conner handled 283 touches for 1,508 scrimmage yards and nine touchdowns in 2024. Arizona kept him on a revised contract for the final year of his deal, then signed Tyler Allgeier and drafted Jeremiyah Love third overall. Love is expected to take over the lead role, and Allgeier saw plenty of first-team work during the spring. Conner should be healthy for training camp, but at 31, he is headed for a complementary role. RotoBaller ranks him as the dynasty RB61. Rebuilders should take a reasonable return instead of carrying him through another value drop. Contenders can hold. Conner has enough receiving ability and scoring history to matter if more work opens during the season.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Phillies Promoting No. 17 Prospect Alex McFarlane to Big Leagues
The Philadelphia Phillies are calling up right-handed pitching prospect Alex McFarlane from Double-A Reading on Monday, according to Milb Central. McFarlane, who is considered the team's No. 17 prospect at MLB Pipeline, will get his second call to the majors after posting a 2.06 ERA and 1.17 WHIP with 12 saves, 47 strikeouts, and 18 walks in 35 innings pitched out of the bullpen. McFarlane was up briefly with the Phillies back in April, but he never appeared in a game. The 25-year-old stands at 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds and should operate in more of a low-leverage role when he makes his MLB debut after making the full-time transition to a relief role in 2026. McFarlane can reach the upper-90s with his fastball, and he's a fastball-slider pitcher with ground-ball tendencies. He also has toyed with a split-change, but now that McFarlane is a full-time reliever, he'll most likely stick to his fastball-slider combo with plenty of swing and miss. For now, fantasy managers in single-year leagues can avoid the young reliever.
Source: Milb Central
Source: Milb Central
D'Andre Swift a Vital Part of Bears Offense, Capable of More
Chicago Bears running back D'Andre Swift had career highs in rushing yards (1,087) and rushing touchdowns (nine) on 223 carries in 2025 while also catching 34 passes for 299 receiving yards and one touchdown. Swift and Kyle Monangai combined to become one of the league's top rushing tandems last season. They were the only pair of RBs to each rush for 750-plus yards, which helped the Bears finish with the third-best rushing attack in the league in head coach Ben Johnson's first year in Chicago. Johnson described Swift and Monangai as "a pretty formidable unit." "He's a dynamic player," Johnson said about Swift. "I've known that about him since he came into the league, firsthand up there in Detroit, and certainly last year I wasn't surprised about the year he had. So, is he capable of more? Absolutely. He absolutely is. He's a vital part of what we do here." Monangai's presence in the Bears' backfield definitely will keep Swift from being a surefire RB1 in fantasy, but Swift proved in 2025 that he can still be productive as a strong RB2 while sharing touches in Johnson's offense. At the very worst, fantasy managers in redraft leagues should target Swift as a high-end RB3/flex.
Source: ChicagoBears.com - Gabby Hajduk
Source: ChicagoBears.com - Gabby Hajduk
Rookie Jam Miller Competing for a Backup Role in New England
New England Patriots rookie running back Jam Miller will be competing for a backup role behind TreVeyon Henderson and Rhamondre Stevenson in 2026 after he was selected in the seventh round in April out of the University of Alabama, according to Evan Lazar of Patriots.com. New England doesn't have a clear-cut RB3 on its roster like they did last summer with veteran Antonio Gibson. Lazar suggests it will be a four-man competition between Miller, Terrell Jennings, Lan Larison, and undrafted rookie Myles Montgomery for what will likely be one spot on the 53-man roster. Miller is a compact runner with good straight-line speed, and his experience as a core special-teamer early in his career at Alabama should help his cause. His best path to playing time as a rookie with the Patriots will be if Stevenson misses time due to an injury, so Miller can be avoided in redraft fantasy leagues in 2026. In dynasty/keeper formats, Miller is strictly a stash candidate in his first year if you have either Henderson or Stevenson rostered.
Source: Patriots.com - Evan Lazar
Source: Patriots.com - Evan Lazar
Tahj Brooks Competing for a Bigger Complementary Role in Bengals Backfield
Cincinnati Bengals running back Tahj Brooks only saw 16 rushing attempts for 45 yards and caught one of his two targets for nine yards in 16 games in 2025 after the Bengals took him in the sixth round out of Texas Tech. Brooks mainly saw work on special teams as a rookie and in mop-up duty on offense. Chase Brown is the unquestioned leader of Cincinnati's backfield going into the 2026 season yet again behind an offensive line that is returning all five starters from last year. Veteran Samaje Perine figures to lead the group behind Brown again in 2026, which leaves Brooks competing for touches as the RB3 for the Bengals. Most likely, Brooks will serve in more of a special teams role for the second straight year as a punt protector. For now, fantasy managers in single-year formats can ignore Brooks entirely. In dynasty/keeper leagues, he's merely a deep-league stash for insurance if you also have Brown on your roster.
Source: Bengals.com - Michael Hull
Source: Bengals.com - Michael Hull
